In the United States far as wet fly history, we think of names like Bergman, Leisenring & Hidy, Hughes and of course Sylvestor Nemes. To me I also include Theodore Gordon, John Verniard, Holden, Roger Fogg, E. M. Tod, Peter O'Reilly, W. H Lawrie. I know that Davy if he would kindly chime in would name a few others that I do not know or have drawn a blank on. In modern times I do think of my Mentor and dear friend Don Bastian, my new friend who I hope to meet one day Davy and lastly Ken Sawada. I write this because there is one member who we lost this past year who at times has been over looked and not thought of. I am talking but Helen Shaw. Helen Shaw had written a beautiful book on tying wet flies titled "Flies For Fish & Fishermen". You see Helen did something in the United States that truly was not done. She wrote a how to book on tying classic wet flies. She wrote this book providing numerous details and pictures along with clear and concise tying instruction. Helen was quite a tyer and did love to tye wet flies. Helen also provided a pattern called the Brookie Fin that is not easily found in pattern books on wet flies. You see I was looking at my Library tonight getting ready to start researching and writing a piece for my clubs news letter. I seen Helen's book and remember the thrill and fun I had reading it and of course trying to follow along tying those wet flies. It was Helen that helped to advance my tying style and really start to develope my artisic side of my tying. No one in the United States has yet come close on a how to book on tying wet flies other than Helen. Yes one can argue and say that there are now DVD'S on this subject, but just remember one thing. A DVD does not work when no electricity or DVD player is present or when one goes camping and wants to read a spell where it is peacefull and quiet. A book can always be brought with you and is always a reliable resource. To all of the great people I have met and posted with here so far, if you are into wet flies or just getting into tying wet flies, please give this book a try. I am quite sure that you will be pleasently surprised. Now the only thing with Helen's book is that she had written the book to flow from chapter to chapter. So if you decide to skip a chapter, you will miss a lesson or two that will be needed for the next chapter. Helen will refer you back to the chapter where she first explained and shown the technique required. Hence you will need to read that chapter that you skipped before moving on. Helen was not really a fishermen nor did she develope a fly style like Carrie Stevens had done. This is probably why Helen was not given a higher recognition than she deserved. Just some thoughts that ran through my head tonight.

Fontinalis
Andy